Scientific partnership aimed at sharing research

The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Saudi Arabia’s Qassim University formalized this week a scientific partnership aimed at sharing research in the fields of biology, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and their applications to dentistry.

The Saban Research Institute also will provide training and education in regenerative medicine and molecular biology to Qassim University students and faculty.

Qassim is a major educational center in the Middle East, with more than 50,000 enrolled students and 4,000 faculty and staff.

“After several years of working with our colleagues from Qassim University, I am pleased to be signing this important agreement that formalizes our intention to strengthen our scientific and educational relationship,” Saban Research Institute Director Dr. Brent Polk said.

The agreement was signed Thursday by Dr.Polk and Professor Sulaiman Alyahya, vice president for Planning, Development and Quality at Qassim’s College of Dentistry.

The joint effort resulted from an exploratory visit to Saudi Arabia in 2011 by Dr. David Warburton, director of Saban’s Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine Program.

“We are honored to enter into this relationship and look forward to a productive collaboration to benefit people on both sides of the globe,” Warburton said.